Badruddin Ajmal has triggered controversy after making remarks targeting Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during an election campaign meeting in Nagaon district.
Speaking at a meeting in Borbori under Lahorighat, Ajmal said he would “gouge out Himanta’s eyes” so that the Chief Minister could not see members of the Miya community, according to a report by India Today NE. He also made remarks about Sarma and Assam minister Pijush Hazarika allegedly having to go to Bangladesh.
The comments came as campaigning intensified for the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll. The constituency is scheduled to vote on October 6, while counting will take place on October 9.
Badruddin Ajmal targets BJP candidate
Badruddin Ajmal also targeted BJP candidate Debashish Sharma during the campaign meeting, according to the same report.
Ajmal said he would put Sharma in jail within four months if elected. He also made a conditional statement about forgiving the BJP candidate if he recited the Kalima, the report said. Ajmal further used the phrase, “This doctor, that doctor — Ajmal is the factor,” while addressing supporters.
These statements form part of an increasingly sharp campaign in Nagaon, where several political parties are seeking support before polling. The remarks have added a personal dimension to the contest involving the AIUDF chief and candidates from other major parties.
Ajmal is contesting the bypoll as the AIUDF candidate. His nomination was accepted during scrutiny along with those of BJP candidate Debashish Sharma and Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora.
Badruddin Ajmal in Nagaon poll contest
Badruddin Ajmal entered the Nagaon contest after the AIUDF announced his candidature in September. He is currently the MLA from Binnakandi and previously represented the Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency for three terms.
The Nagaon seat fell vacant after former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the Lok Sabha and joined the BJP. Bordoloi later contested the Assam Assembly election from Dispur on a BJP ticket and won, leading to the bypoll.
The BJP has fielded former IAS officer Debashish Sharma, while Congress has nominated former Batadrava MLA Sibamoni Bora. The Trinamool Congress has also fielded Abdul Salam.
Badruddin Ajmal and Himanta exchange attacks
The latest remarks follow several rounds of criticism between Badruddin Ajmal and Himanta Biswa Sarma during the campaign.
Sarma recently questioned Ajmal’s continued role in electoral politics and said the AIUDF chief should focus on religious activities rather than contesting the bypoll. Sarma also commented on Ajmal’s age and ability to continue political campaigning.
Ajmal had earlier responded to Sarma’s campaign statements with his own attacks. At a September 24 meeting in the Dhing area, he referred to a reported comment about breaking the “backbone” of the Miya community and responded by comparing his own weight with that of the Chief Minister.
The exchanges have unfolded alongside broader campaign disputes involving BJP, Congress and AIUDF leaders.
Nagaon campaign enters final phase
The Nagaon bypoll campaign has entered its final days, with candidates focusing on local concerns while also trading political attacks.
Badruddin Ajmal has previously said that the AIUDF would campaign on issues including eviction drives, price rise, education and healthcare. He has also publicly claimed that he would win the election, although such campaign assertions are political claims rather than established outcomes.
Congress leaders have separately alleged an understanding between the BJP and AIUDF, a claim that has been disputed by the parties involved. Such allegations have become another part of the wider political contest surrounding the seat.
With polling approaching, the focus is now on how candidates address voters across the constituency. The latest remarks by Badruddin Ajmal have nevertheless placed the language used during campaign meetings at the centre of attention.
The final decision will rest with voters when Nagaon goes to the polls on October 6. The Election Commission has scheduled counting for October 9, when the electoral contest will produce the official result.
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